Pavement.



E. ALGOTT.

I PAVEMENT. APiPLIOATIOlI nun MAY 25, 1909.

Patented J l 27,1909. 7

' v 3 4mm ,Zfrhmn? 1i lco if.

7% Mom 161,,

PATENT ori ion EDWARD 'ALC OTT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y

PAVEMENT.

No. 929,366. Specification of Application filed May 25,

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD 'ALCO'TT, a citizen of the United States, residing at -11 1 ,Broadway, in the city of New York, in the like which are county ofNew York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Iniprovements in Pavements, of which the following is a specification,- reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to the subject of paving, and it has particularly in view novel means for retaining in use the worn blocks of a pavement so that the uneven top surfaces thereof will be caused to wear smooth, and thereby provide a practically noiseless roadway, and at the same time permitting the old blocks to be continuously in use, thus materially cheapening the cost of the pavement and also prolonging its life.

The invention is of special value for use in connection with the common type of substantially oblon blocks of granite or the Iaid with one of their flat edges uppermost, the blocks being suitably spaced by the interposed filling material, such as tar or other binding material. In practical use the edges of the blocks become worn on account of the pounding upon the same by horses and also by the wheels of vehicles, so that in a short time the top surface of the block becomes humped or rounded, which makes the roadway slippery, and also causing the traffic thereover to be exceedingly noisy, so much so that the blocks have to be discarded, and new blocks substituted therefor.

It is the primary aim of the present invention to provide a key to be fitted between humped blocks, so as to cause the trallic to exert its greatest force upon the centers or humped portions thereof, so as to cause said hump to be worn smooth.

In carrying out the objects of the invention generally stated above, it will, of course, be understood that the essential features thereof are necessarily susceptible of modification, certain preferred and practical embodiments of whiclnare shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein: k

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a roadway showing the rise of the improved wedging keys in position between the paving blocks. Fig. 2 is a detail cross sectional view of two paving blocks, showing theuse of keys between the meeting ends Letters Patent. Patented July 27, 1909 1909. Serial No. 498,295.

thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective view'of a modified type of key.

Referring to the drawings, and more par- I ticiilarly to Fig. 1 thereof, it will be seen that the improved pavingh'as been shown as composed of the usual granite blocks 1, which are of a substantially oblong shape and arranged so that their upper surface projects transversely of the direction of trafiic. This is the common arrangement, and the blocks have been shown as they appear after having been in use for some time, the central portions 2 thereof being humped and their edges '3 rounded. Saidblocks are arranged so as to break joint, and between the meeting edge of said blocks the improved keys are interposed. The Wedging keys shown in Fig. 1 are all of the same shape and construction, each being provided with a widened and flattened head 4, the side edges of which overhang and are rounded on their under sideas indicated by the numeral 5, so as to have an interlocking and nesting engagement withthe rounded edges 3 of the paving blocks, so that the top surface of the heads 4 will prevent the traffic from coming in contact -with said rounded edges and cause the same to be directly on the humped central 'portion 2. The body 6 of the keys is of a ta ering formation which merges into sai rounded under side 5 of the head 4 on an easy curve.

In Fig. 1, the side wedges have been designated generally by the numeral 7 and the end keys by the numeral 8. .The keys are, preferably, wood, which may be the waste ends from mills. Said keys are quarter-sawed so as to be arranged to present their grain-s -transversely of the direction of traflic,,the grain of the wedges 7 being indicated by the numeral 9 and shown running longitudinally thereof, and the grain of the key 8 being designated l by the numerallO and shown running transl versely thereof. As will be understood from i this arrangement of keys, the traffic is across the grains with the result that the top surfaces thereof are spread out to extend over the edge portion of the blocks so as to form a level surface bv means of which the full force of traffic is directed to the central portion l of the. blocks.

In Fi 3, thekeyll is shown as-of a flat wedge s ape. This keyis used in the same I way the key of the preferred embodiments,

of white oak or other suitable I I eerie and performs the same functions, excepting, I edges of said blocks, said wedges being arof course, the heads are not adapted for interlocking engagement with the edges of the blocks.

It will be seen from the foregoing that by means of the described key, the old and worn blocks may be continued in use for the reason that said keys form a smooth bridging surface over the meeting edges of said blocks which in addition to providing means for directing the force of the traffic to the raised or humped portion of the blocks, also ob viate the disagreeable noise incidental to the contact of the horses feet and vehicles with the edges of the blocks, and further, the wooden surfaces form a firm gripping surface forthe feet of horses so as to prevent slipping.

What I claim is:

1.- A pavement comprising a plurality of blocks, wooden keys adapted to be interposed between the meeting ends and sides thereof, said keys having their grain running transversely of the direction of traffic so that the top surfaces of said wedges will be spread over adjoining blocks.

2. A pavement comprising paving-blocks, and wooden keys interposed between the meeting sides and ends of said blocks and provided with overhanging side edges adapted for interlocking engagement with the ranged-sothat their grain willbe trimsverscly of the direction of traffic.

3. A '(lGVlCO of the character described,

comprising awooden. key having a flat M widened head, and a tapering body, said key being adapted for interposition between paving-blocks with its grain running transversely of the direction of traliic.

4. A device of the (diameter described, 4

comprising a wooden key having a flat widened head and a tapering body, said head overhanging said body, said key being adapted for interposition between the meet ing faces of building blocks and having its grain running transversely to the direction of traffic.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a wedge shaped wooden. key

adapted for insertion between meeting faces of paving blocks with its grain running transversely to the direetion of trallic so that the top surface thereof willbe spread over said blocks.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD ALCOTT. lVitnesses:

S. A. T ORRY, H. JOSIAH DOYLE. 

